The marriage of the Prince of Wales to Camilla Parker Bowles may not be on the agenda at the Church of England's General Synod, which begins in London later today, but it is certain to be hotly debated outside official sessions.

Evangelical elements of the church are furious that they have not been given an opportunity to debate the issue during the four-day February Sessions at Church House in Westminster.

Reverend David Phillips, the director of the conservative Church Society, echoed the hostility of many within the church towards the royal marriage, which he said was "so important" to the future of the Church of England.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the Archbishop of Canterbury was wrong to agree to conduct a church blessing for the civil ceremony, as this would dignify a long-standing adulterous affair.

Adultery had resulted in the breakdown of the marriages of both Charles and Camilla, he said - and this was not compatible with Prince Charles's future role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

"Someone in that position should be modelling what Christian marriage is about and what the Church has taught, and should be teaching about the position of marriage," Rev Phillips said.

If the Prince was determined to go ahead with the marriage, he did not believe Charles should become the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

However, Canon David Houlding, a member of the Archbishop's Council, told Today the wedding was entirely in accordance with the Church's position. "Their marriage is very much to be welcomed," he said.

The role of Supreme Governor of the Church was a constitutional one, Canon Houlding added: "I cannot see any reason why the present arrangements for [Charles's] marriage will bar him from holding that position when the time comes."

A leading law expert said yesterday that Mrs Parker Bowles would legally be Queen when Prince Charles inherits the throne, whatever title she uses.

Stephen Cretney, Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, said that the issue was "exhaustively researched" by senior government lawyers at the time of the abdication crisis in 1936.

Dr Cretney also cast doubt on whether Prince Charles and Mrs Parker Bowles could marry in a civil ceremony.

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